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is Zen Zen without the Okesa?

This is a question asked by Myozan and I ll do my best to answer.

Today, there is pretty much everything you can imagine from the most Japanese like kind of way of practice to the plain ordinary sitting without any prop, statue or robe. And all the variations in between. You may have a peep at all Gudo s Dharma heirs and see for yourself how different they are, how their style of practice varies. Just sitting without a robe is as valid as with a robe, sitting with a robe does nt give anybody the right to pontify and disqualify those that don t wear these Buddhist rags. And, those we don t wear the robe and don t understand it should refrain from making statements about the robe. And students, whoever they are, can be humble and refrain from criticizing or praising the robe, putting their trust in a teacher, they follow her or his example and teaching, would he or she wear the robe, so should they, if the teacher doesn t, they should do the same.

Now, the robe was first made and sewn in the old days when Shakyamuni first taught roaming the land. It has been given through generations as the robe of sitting, the bones and flesh of Buddha, the real thing, and sewing was the rule beore monk shops opened and the okesa in its modern form came about in Meiji era. All the great teachers of the past revered the robe, wore it and taught how to make it. Dogen was very good with the needle, I could see his needle work on a kesa exhibited in Kyoto two years ago, and Sawaki revived this tradition making the robe available to lay people, people receiving Jukai and not just to priests.

Zen was transmitted to me first by Deshimaru roshi and his close students, and then by Mike Chodo Cross Dharma heir of Gudo and also pretty good with a needle, sewing was for all my teachers a very important activity and wearing the robe a natural expression of just sitting.

A few years ago, Jundo knowing I was in Japan asked me to make sure that sewing could be taught, practiced and therefore I started to instruct people, we recorded videos and I wrote a short book about it. Jundo and I would like every person taking the Buddhist vows to sew their rakusu, a small form of the okesa, the big robe, as we both see that although the black and white robes are not necessary ( they are Chinese and Japanese additions), the robe should be kept and can perfectly wrap a sitter in shorts, pans, t- shirt or even naked...of course you may be part of this Sangha and not wear the robe, not do the precepts ceremony and that s perfectly OK. And if you come and start to question the robe, I would simply advise you to sit a good thirty years and sew before you do so. Because you simply dont know what you are talking about. People that start to sew for jukai are often reluctant to do so and very skeptikal about the whole process, a few weeks later they eyes open to a complete new reality.

Here we practice following Sawaki s teachings about the robe.

Zen is Zen. With or without the robe.

And because I am a distant student of Dogen and Sawaki, Zen is wearing the robe, shaving my head and being caught by the still state.

Thank you... I learned a lot sewing my Rakusu during this Ango, it opened my eyes during some hard times last couple of months... I can´t even explain how much I enjoyed the process... yet, I know that there is so much more to learn from sewing...

For me the robe says "This is not a day trip, this is all or nothing". Maybe that sounds extreme to some Zen sensibilities ..where there is nowhere to go, and nowhere to fall...and everything is "just ordinary". Even though that is true, at the same time, there is something at stake, and there is being swept away, and it can get bad, and this life is an opportunity. So there is also "practicing like your hair is on fire"... and there are people who know what that means. Wearing the robe represents that to me. It represents no choice. At 47 years old now, maybe that ship has already sailed . There was a lot of regret over not ordaining in my Forest sangha days... when I got married and took refuge at about the same time, and was torn. The patched robe is beautiful and true. It should not be washed away in "ordinary Zen" . Thank you Taigu.

Gassho, kojip

As a trainee I ask that all comments by me on matters of Dharma be taken with "a grain of salt".

For me the robe says "This is not a day trip, this is all or nothing". Maybe that sounds extreme to some Zen sensibilities ..where there is nowhere to go, and nowhere to fall...and everything is "just ordinary". Even though that is true, at the same time, there is something at stake, and there is being swept away, and it can get bad, and this life is an opportunity. So there is also "practicing like your hair is on fire"... and there are people who know what that means. Wearing the robe represents that to me. It represents no choice. At 47 years old now, maybe that ship has already sailed . There was a lot of regret over not ordaining in my Forest sangha days... when I got married and took refuge at about the same time, and was torn. The patched robe is beautiful and true. It should not be washed away in "ordinary Zen" . Thank you Taigu.

Gassho, kojip

Deep bows, Kojip. No choice is exactly how I feel about it, too.

The best way to honour the women of the Prairies who won the right to vote a hundred years ago isn't a monument. It's you going out to vote.

I am grateful to our teachers for holding the okesa at the core of this sangha. I am equally, if not more, grateful that it is a practice which is available to all of us. Through a couple of recent experiences, I have spoken with people who view the kesa (and even the rakusu) as a display of rank or attainment.

In my humble view, the robe is neither earned nor freely given. As Taigu wrote, it is "a natural expression of just sitting."

I like how Taigu puts it.
Zen is Zen, with or without the robe. I would never get the idea to question the robe - everyone must decide for themselves what they want and need.
Although I cannot imagine to sew a rakusu at the moment, I really understand its value and meaning it has for others and I deeply respect it.

Through a couple of recent experiences, I have spoken with people who view the kesa (and even the rakusu) as a display of rank or attainment.

This is very unfortunate ad these people haven t met the real teaching of the Okesa, trapped in a vision inspired by the official Soto clergy, giving colors a ranking value from black, young priest to golden yellow, high ranking bishop. In the true school of the robe, the robe is just the robe of sitting, and can be on anybody s body, from destitutes and criminals to saints. A robe beyond discrimination. I always had a hard time to get this message across. The dye on the fabric is diminishing the value of the fabric, the patches are rags sewn together. Nothing fancyful.

Thanks Taigu and Jundo for teaching another way to practice Zen. I also miss the stitch after stitch and reciting the refuges as we go along. Perhaps an Okesa is in my future.

Gassho, Shawn Jakudo Hinton
It all begins when we say, “I”. Everything that follows is illusion.
"Even to speak the word Buddha is dragging in the mud soaking wet; Even to say the word Zen is a total embarrassment."
寂道

Taigu, is there a pre-requisite or a certain time one should wait until sewing a Kesa?
Gassho, Shawn.

Gassho, Shawn Jakudo Hinton
It all begins when we say, “I”. Everything that follows is illusion.
"Even to speak the word Buddha is dragging in the mud soaking wet; Even to say the word Zen is a total embarrassment."
寂道

thanks for everybody's input (especially Taigu ), I'm about to make myself a nice cup of tea and will resume sewing a new O-Kesa in a second... Everybody's enthusiasm is really bringing home to me the beauty of this tradition. Many years ago I felt that it was all about perfectionism, since some people I had met didn't really radiate the warmth that many of you folks do...or maybe I just didn't see it at the time. Anyhow, since I am extremely clumsy (seriously, I am not fishing for compliments here), sewing the kesa is a sure way to show me that this way is never ending.

Hans, that perfectionism is something I can really relate to. I have sometimes felt like there is virtue in being a "good" sewer, and as I sewed my okesa occasionally felt the enormous weight of believing that I was not good enough to be doing this.

It came to a real head when I was almost done with it. I was cutting the thread after sewing on the last joro. My scissors slipped and I cut the fabric of the okesa. I was absolutely horrified. For the next couple nights I lay in bed before falling asleep replaying it in my head, imagining the small movement that would have avoided the whole thing, wishing for a way to undo that
moment. When it was time to meet with my teacher, I unwrapped the okesa and showed her what I had done, feeling really nervous. Her reaction was amazing to me - she looked at it, and with absolutely no judgement began helping me to repair it.

I learned so much from that episode. I'm really glad I made that mistake - without it I would have suffered under that particular misunderstanding for much longer. The okesa is something different than I had thought. It doesn't rely on my skill as a sewer, and it's not vulnerable to my mistakes.

Sometimes I wear a Kesa, sometimes I wear a Rakusu, sometimes I do not ... but it is always present and covering all even if not seen with the eye. (The dark underrobes are just old Chinese clothing, but I wear them to honor Tradition when the time is right). This Saturday, our monthly long Zazenkai, I will wear full underrobes and Kesa. Other days, I may sit with no visible Kesa or Rakusu at all ... perhaps in a t-shirt on the beach ... but it is always present. We chant ...

Robe of Liberation boundless
Field beyond both form and formless
Wearing the Tathagatha’s Teachings
Vowing to save all sentient beings

Thank you for this thread. I must admit that I feel a bit afraid of sewing and the whole robe thing. Primarily because I'm clumsy and impatient. Also because I had associations with hierarchical clergy which made me think of oppressive religious institutions - even though I also knew on a rational basis that this was totally not what Zen is about. Before reading this thread I already thought about having a closer look at it. Maybe it's not that horribly difficult. Maybe it's not about becoming an award-winning fashionista in Zen regalia. Now, after reading this trhead, I do know I will have a close look at it.
Thank you so much.

Thank you for this thread. I must admit that I feel a bit afraid of sewing and the whole robe thing. Primarily because I'm clumsy and impatient. Also because I had associations with hierarchical clergy which made me think of oppressive religious institutions - even though I also knew on a rational basis that this was totally not what Zen is about. Before reading this thread I already thought about having a closer look at it. Maybe it's not that horribly difficult. Maybe it's not about becoming an award-winning fashionista in Zen regalia. Now, after reading this trhead, I do know I will have a close look at it.
Thank you so much.

Gassho

Roland

Roland, I certainly encourage you to have a close look at sewing the Rakusu. Be not afraid of clumsiness or impatience. The process is hard and easy all rolled up into one experience. I am not a person that sews but I did sew my Rakusu; with cloth, thread, needle, and guidance I began one stich at a time, one breath at a time until it was finished. I was reluctant to do the Jukai because of the sewing but I am glad that I did.

Gassho,
Heishu

平
秀“Blessed are the flexible, for they never get bent out of shape." Author Unknown

Just take a look at what I wrote above in this thread...
And then about one year later I sewed a rakusu. I did not think much about it, but when the time came it just felt like "the thing to do".
After all sewing and sitting zazen are actually the same.

Dear Friends
First of all, thanks a lot Taigu and Jundo sensei for all these important teachings.
I remember that I made my rakusu with other 5 or 6 sangha members and almost all the time under the attentive look of our sensei, a Soto priest, and 2 or 3 old disciples, candidates to be monks. Even with all that attention many times I must undoing some parts of the sewing, when our sensei considered that the product was not as expected. Many times I hated the process but now I am aware that it was the way to do that, and was a great joy when at the end of the process the sensei assigned me a so significant dharma name and put in the reakusu with her stamp.
I really admire the situation of most of the sangha that could sew their rakusus or kesas on an individual basis and with on distance assistance. I think is a huge achievement which talks clearly about the motivation and enthusiasm of our sangha members.

Gassho
Senryu

Please forgive any mistake in my writing. Like in Zen, in English I am only a beginner.